GULF WAR II: PRINCE HAILS COLONEL TIM'S 'STIRRING' SPEECH

THE Prince of Wales has written a moving personal letter to Colonel Tim Collins, the British Commander whose historic eve-of- battle speech to British troops has made him a hero to millions.

The letter, sent from Prince Charles' Scottish Highlands retreat of Birkhall, described his oration as "stirring, civilised and humane" and congratulated him on "the highest traditions of military leadership".

It arrived on Good Friday to the joy of the Colonel's men, the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, who fought their way further north than any British troops and are currently peace-keeping on the Iran- Iraq border.

Colonel Collins said: "I was delighted to receive such a personal letter from our future King. I have shared it with the men because I believe his sentiments were meant for all of us.

"I hope he does not mind me disclosing its contents. I think it reminds us how in touch he is with public life and his genuine concern for the people of Iraq who have suffered so much."

The Royal Irish CO won worldwide acclaim for the speech he delivered to his 800 strong battalion as they prepared to cross the breach into Iraq a month ago.

His belief that "we go to liberate not to conquer" and his order "if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory" galvanised public opinion in Britain and America.

As much a plea for compassion as it was a battlecry, the oration was unplanned and delivered without notes by the 42-year-old Belfast economics graduate.

At the time the Colonel said he felt his men, although willing to fight, were troubled by the political and moral doubts which beset much of Britain. As their leader, he wished to share his own conviction in the democratic and humane rectitude of the conflict.

Although his letter of congratulations from the Prince is unprecedented it is not perhaps surprising. For Charles, a former Naval officer and Commander-in-Chief of many regiments, is a staunch defender of British military tradition.

Like the Presbyterian Colonel whose tone was biblical in parts, he is deeply religious and prays daily. Finally, both men share a fascination for the Muslim religion and Eastern culture which they believe enriches rather than threatens the Christian west.

In his speech the Colonel made it clear to the men of the Royal Irish, which includes a company of Gurkhas as well as soldiers from nations as diverse as Fiji, South Africa and Australia, that Saddam and his Ba'ath Party were the enemy, not Iraq and her people.

As such, he said, the troops should respect the culture and antiquity of the Gulf State once it was under Allied control.

Most poignantly, the father of five, while preparing his own battalion for death in their ranks, also demanded they treat fallen enemy soldiers with dignity and bury them in marked graves.

He told his troops: 'The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction.

"There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam.

"He and his forces will be destroyed by this Coalition for what they have done. As they die they will know their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity. It is a big step to take another human life. It is not to be done lightly.

"I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts, I can assure you they live with the mark of Caine upon them.

"If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest for your deeds will follow you down through history. We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.

"Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there. You will see things that no man could pay to see and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.

"Don't treat them as refugees for they are in their own country. Their children will be poor, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you. We will not fly our flags in their country.

"We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own."

Charles's response to his stirring words arrived on cream- coloured paper bearing the green crest of Birkhall, his hideaway on the Balmoral estate.

It begins and ends in the distinctive handwriting of the Prince and bears his trademark underlining of words he wishes to emphasise.

THE LETTER IN FULL

Dear Colonel Collins,

The other day my attention was drawn to the address you made to your Battalion before the conflict to unseat Saddam Hussein began and I asked to see as much of the transcript as possible.

For what it is worth, I just wanted you to know how profoundly moved I was - and I know many others were too - by your extraordinarily stirring, civilised and humane words. What you said somehow encapsulated, in a brilliantly inspired way, everything that we have come to expect of our Armed Forces and demonstrated why, quite simply, they are the best in the world.

But what was so moving, and so deeply heartening, if I may say so, was that you totally understood the nature of Iraq and her people and the need, above all, for respect if the peace is to be won.

I hope you will forgive me for writing in this way, but it made me so proud to read what you said. It was in the highest traditions of military leadership and I simply had to express my admiration.

I hope my brother, your Colonel-in-Chief (Prince Andrew) will also forgive me for interfering in his Regiment, but as you have a reinforcement company from one of my Regiments - the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles - I felt there may be some justification!

Whatever the case, this brings you and all your people my heartfelt good wishes and constant thoughts as you carry out your difficult duties in Iraq.

May God go with you all.

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